Paul William Dries was born on December 8, 1913, in Avoca, Steuben County, New York. He was the son of Raymond Grover Dries and Isabelle S McGrady Dries. He was the husband of Kathleen Pugh Slaney.

Paul joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and after training, was assigned to the 97th (Straits Settlement) Squadron. He was based at RAF Bourn in England, where he served as a Flight Sergeant. He was the rear gunner of an Avro Lancaster III, craft number JB218 OF-Y. His aircraft took a hit to the bomb bay, which ignited the "cookie" (a large 4000-pound bomb) and several smaller bombs they were carrying while flying over Berlin, Germany, during the Battle of Berlin. The only survivor was the pilot, J.A. Penny, who had a pilot's chute attached to his seat that saved his life after the aircraft disintegrated without a trace. Penny was held as a POW until the end of the war when he was released.

The entire crew was:
F/S JA Penny POW
Sgt RT Fathers KIA
Sgt J Graham KIA
Sgt RA Campbell KIA
Sgt JR Cowen KIA
F/S RS Mortham KIA
F/S PW Dries RCAF KIA

Paul and the rest of the crew were declared missing in action and presumed dead on November 23, 1943. Paul's remains were not recovered.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com